Method and Apparatus for Defining the Significance of a Vehicle Communication Connection

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for controlling a vehicle function via a first communication connection between a first vehicle and a device. A multiplicity of different communication connections is operated to a corresponding multiplicity of different vehicles. A significance message is sent to the device via the first communication connection. The significance message indicates a significance value for a significance of the first communication connection. The significance message is configured to prompt the device to define a connection parameter that is dependent on the significance value for the first communication connection. The significance message indicates a priority level from a predefined set of different priority levels. Alternatively, or in addition, the significance value for the significance of the first communication connection indicates a priority of the first communication connection in comparison with one or more other communication connections.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable electronic device for controlling a vehicle function via a first communication connection between a first vehicle and a device, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory in communication with the processor and configured to store instructions executable by the processor to configure the portable electronic device to:
 operate a multiplicity of different communication connections to a corresponding multiplicity of different vehicles; and 
 send a significance message to the device via the first communication connection, wherein
 the significance message indicates a significance value for a significance of the first communication connection. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The portable electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the significance message is configured to prompt the device to define a connection parameter that is dependent on the significance value for the first communication connection.   
     
     
         3 . The portable electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the significance message indicates a priority level from a predefined set of different priority levels; and/or   the significance value for the significance of the first communication connection indicates a priority of the first communication connection in comparison with one or more other communication connections.   
     
     
         4 . The portable electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions to configure the portable electronic device to:
 determine the significance value for the significance of the first communication connection between the device and the first vehicle based on the vehicle function that is intended to be remotely controlled or is remotely controlled via the first communication connection.   
     
     
         5 . The portable electronic device according to  claim 4 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions to configure the portable electronic device to:
 determine the significance value for the significance of the first communication connection between the device and the first vehicle using a significance catalog, wherein
 the significance catalog indicates a respective corresponding significance value for different vehicle functions. 
   
     
     
         6 . The portable electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions to configure the portable electronic device to:
 receive a control command for remotely controlling the vehicle function of the first vehicle via the first communication connection.   
     
     
         7 . The portable electronic device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the first communication connection includes a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication connection; and   the connection parameter comprises a temporal length of connection intervals of the BLE communication connection.   
     
     
         8 . The portable electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions to configure the portable electronic device to:
 cause the first communication connection between the device and the first vehicle to be established considering a digital key, wherein
 the digital key configured according to a Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) standard Release 3. 
   
     
     
         9 . The portable electronic device according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the significance message is a message according to the CCC standard; and/or   the significance message is sent on a same protocol layer as the digital key.   
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling a vehicle function via a first communication connection between a first vehicle and a device, wherein the device is configured for remote control of vehicle functions to operate a multiplicity of different communication connections to a corresponding multiplicity of different vehicles, the method comprising:
 sending a significance message to the device via the first communication connection, wherein
 the significance message indicates a significance value for a significance of the first communication connection. 
   
     
     
         11 . A significance message provided to be sent to a device by a vehicle via a communication connection, wherein the device is configured to remotely control a vehicle function of the vehicle via the communication connection, wherein
 the significance message indicates a significance value for a significance of the communication connection.